Modern dentistry has moved on leaps and bounds over the past few decades. Long gone are the days of tying teeth to pieces of string and slamming doors; even the most feared dentists’ drills have become less terrifying through advances in designs cutting down on noise and making the procedures less scary. Thousands of dental procedures are carried out each day across the country with positive results and happy patients – however, not all dentistry goes so smoothly.
What can go wrong?
The most common types of dental negligence are as follows:
Delayed, missed or late diagnosis.
This occurs when a dentist fails to notice a serious dental condition, either at first, or completely, and as a result your dental problem is not identified or treated as swiftly as it should be. This can lead to all kinds of issues further down the line.
Misdiagnosis
This occurs when your dentist diagnoses a situation that in fact is not the real reason for the issue. Not only can this lead to the patient receiving the incorrect treatment, it can also involve the actual problem getting worse while it is not being treated.
Improper dental technique
The dentist could be entirely correct with their diagnosis, but failed to perform the treatment in the best way possible, potentially leading to long term oral health issues.
Faulty Equipment
While it might not be your dentist’s fault that a piece of equipment is faulty; it is their responsibility to ensure that all equipment they use is up to standard and in full working condition.
What to do if you have suffered from dental negligence?
All NHS medical services have a complaints procedure for when things go wrong; similarly all private health providers must provide information and guidance for how to make a complaint. However, if you feel that these procedures are not helping you get the support you need, you should contact one of our solicitors. They have been dealing with dental and medical negligence cases for many years and are very familiar with this area of the law. Contact us today to see if we can help you claim the compensation you deserve.